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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1910)
i It, if VOL. XXV. GRANTS PASS, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEHRl'ARY 4, 1010. No. 45. ' ' ' . ill 1 : . . i:!, ' to, ft 4 HIGH SCHOOL BOND ELECTION TO TAKE PLACE OX SATURDAY . . OF THIS WEEK HIGHLY IMPORTANT ISSUE The Friends of Education Must Go (o the Polls to Prevent Defeat of Higher Learning. It is quite apparent that the legal voters in the seventh school district are not fully awakened to the im portance of the high school bond election which is to take place nfyct Saturday. Me and women who are the real friends of our public school system must not forget that a high school building is absolutely neces sary. If Grants Pass is to take its place and keep pace with the other towns along the line of the Southern Pacific it must have an up-to-date school structure, large enough to ac commodate the constantly increasing demands made upon its capacity, jjt may not be generally known tlat many new families have come jto Grants Pass within the last fpw months to make it their permanent home. Every part of the city hjas new buildings, homes for these new people. A careful investigation jat the lumber factories and among con tractors warrants the assertion that more than a hundred new houses wjlll he built within the next six months and everything points to the prob ability of the continuous growth of Grants Pass. 1 Under present conditions the high school is demanded if we are to pro vide even for present needs, let alone the growth in population which Is in sight. The school board, composed the representative business men In terested in education, have asked the taxpayers to vote the bonds for the Tiew building and they declare that it is all important to have it with as little delay as possible. To defeat these bonds will be to compel Grants Pass to take a backward step which can not be afforded at this time. We understand that there Is a move on foot to defeat the bonds and there fore the necessity on the part of every friend of education to go to the polls and cast his or her ballot so as to Insure the building of a new hlch school. Voting these bonds means prosperity for the city and therefore every friend of the cause must be ready on Saturday to sup port the measure. The friends of education will understand how Im portant It Is to avoid defeat. Boundaries of District No. 7. Tt should be remembered that the property owners In the entire 7th school district are entitled to vote at the election on Saturday. The boundaries of the district are as fol lows: Beginning at the center of Sec 33, Twp. 35, S. of R. 5, thence south to the center of south line of Sec. 9, Twp. 36, R. 6; thence east half mile to southeast corner of Sec. .9; thence south to Rogue river; thedce down said river to a point where It crosses the weRt line of Twp. 36, R. 5; thence north to center of east line of south east quarter of Sec. 12, Twp. 3 R. 6; thence west half mile to the center of west line of SE4 of Sec 12; thence north three-quarter mile to center north line of said See. 12; thence east half mile to the northeast corner of Sec. 12; thence north to center of west line of Sec. 31, Twp 35, R. 6; thence east to place of beginning. Across the river: Commencing at the point where the center line of Sec. 19, Twp. 8, R. 5 W., touches Rogue river; thence running south on said line to the corner In the cen ter of Sec. 30, same township and range; thenre east 1 mile to the cen ter of Sec. 29; thence north on the line In the center of Sec. 29 and 20 to Rogue river; thence westerly down the bank of said river to place of beginning. The Proposed Bond Inane. Tho trrnmed hleh school bond issue is for $45,000 of 5 per cent 10- yeat bonds, with a renewal clause for ten years more. These bonds cover the entire school district and have nothing to do with the city or county. The election takes place on Satur day, February 5, at the Central School building, between the hours of 1 and 4 o'clock. All owners of real estate within school district No. be they men or women, are en titled to vote, and these only. The Old City Bridge to Be Removed. The county court Is In session this week and among other matters taken up was the removal of the old bridge across the river at Sixth street. ' The Columbia Bridge com pany has been . engaged to do the work and as soon as they complete the contract on the Woodville bridge they will bring their machinery here and then the work of tearing away the old bridge will commence. The arrangement Is for the company to take down the bridge at the least possible cost, to which shall be added 20 per cent as a profit to them. The work of demolishing the old structure will be commenced the latter part of this month and it Is expected that it will be finished by the middle of March unless high water prevents. ANOTHER CARRIER ADDED TO FORCE Grants Pass Post Office Takes in Additional Free Delivery Districts. The Increase In the business of the Grants Pass postofflce points with unerring certainty to the growth and upbuilding of the city. The postofflce department at Wash ington has found it necessary to add another carrier to the force at this point and has also taken in new dis tricts. The additional boundaries taken in are Tenth street from G to M; Fifth street from Rogue River avenue to therlver; Oak street from Rogue River avenue to West L street; West I street to Manzanlta avenue; Dim mlck street to Foundry street; B and C streets to Grand avenue; from Or chard avenue to Ninth street; from Savage street to Iowa street. The city Is made Into three car rier districts. The first district will have all of North Grants Pass and Arthur Wlble is the carrier. The second district is all of South Grants Pass and Donald Calvert is the car rier. District No. 3 will embody all west of Gilbert creek now know as West Grants Pass. Clyde Kitchen Is the carrier for this district, and Is the new carrier added to the force. He is a Grants Pass boy and parsed a good examination and is a credit to the force. It may be said that the entire force of carriers in this city is made up of home boys and this is as it should be. Postmasters are given the authority to take men from the outside if they see fit as it often makes the work easier by getting men of experience, but Postmaster Donnell preferred to have the force made up of Grants Pass men. The delivery In the new district was commenced on the first day of Feb ruary. This will be a great conveni ence to our citizens living In thoso parts of the town and the Courier congratulates them on their good fortune. The Storm of Monday. The storm of Monday following the perfect weather of Sunday was one of the severest we have had this winter. It started In with a heavy wind, which was followed by rain, and next In turn came snow In large flakes which nicely covered the ground. On Tuesday It cleared up but the weather was still cold. Wed nesday was a bright beautiful day, but the air was keen and of the sort that ensures a large fruit crop, as It has been Just cold enough to hold the buds dormant so they will es cape the late frosts should there be any. Fruit experts of this county tell us that the show for a success ful crop was never better than It Is now. The cold weather after all scarcely demanded heavy wraps and to recent arrivals from eastern states where they have severe winters the cold was snareely noticeable. SPEGIAL ELECTION FOR von BONDS OISI. Every Freeholder Is Urged to be at the Polls , Tomorrow, Saturday, Between 1 and 4 p. m.-"Education Key to Success." On Saturday next, February 5, will bee held at the the High School building in Grants Pass, a special election for the purpose of determin ing whether or not the said district shall issue construction bonds to the amount of $45,000 f5r the purpose of purchasing a site and the erection thereon of a modern high school building to meet the necessity of ade quate equipment for the coming year. The glorious public school system of America today Is one which knows no distinction of rich and poor In the opportunity which it affords for the very best training in fitting one for success in the battle of life. Many a genius has been obscured in oblivion for lack of education and in this day and age men of advanced years bemoan the lack of opportun ity in their early days to acquire a good education. Today, however, all has changed, and the ambitious boy with no other aid than his own courage and pluck can win for himself the highest posi tions In life, thanks to the agency of the free schools of our land. Realizing the serious handicap un der which he has been placed all his life, no serious and thoughtful father of today will be Indifferent to any question which affects the future success of his child. . In these days of progress and ad vancement along every line the young man of education and natural ability makes rapid strides towards power In the commercial world, while he who through neglect fails to grasp the opportunity so lavishly afforded him must content himself with an ever lowering standard of achievement In life. In all the progressive cities of this state the citizens are realizing these facts and are vielng with each other to provide for their children the very best opportunities for such an edu cation as will qualify them for suc cess is every walk of life; handsome and modern high school "buildings are springing up like mushrooms, providing complete courses in manu al training, argriculture and prac tical engineering In every science for our boys and domestic training In home-keeping for our glrto, thus making them good, sound, sensible citizens. Grants Pass considers herself sec ond to none In the Intelligence of her boya and girls and the desire of their parents for its best and fullest de velopment. After having carefully weighed all the facts and requirements in the matter, the energetic board of edu cation of this district, being fully alive to the needs of the people and being possessed of the desire to gratify their wishes, have determined to place the matter before the peo ple who are so deeply Interested, and has set next Saturday as a day upon which the people may have an op portunity to demonstrate to the state at large that they are not slow in grasping the significance of what higher education means. It Is to be hoped that no """free- holder will allow any personal In convenience to prevent his or her attendance at the polls. For ever a year past the present school aerom modatlons have been Inadequate, thus causing an overcrowding In all 0.7 the grades and aside from preventing the doing of good work, has. been conducive to unsanitary conditions, making the danger of contagion from Infectious diseases a very grave one. It is not generally: known, but Grants Pass has the largest high school enrollment In Southern Ore gon, the rate of increase for the past year being over 40 per cent. At the present time there are 15 pupils In attendance upon the high school for whom there is no adequate accom modations and should the present rate of Increase continue another year, which It is sure to do, It would be absolutely Impossible to conduct the high school In the present build ing, let alone the fact that the grade schools will not accommodate the needs of the various wards and that the taxpayers of the district have already voted for manual training and domestic science for the coming year, both of which demand more room. The Commercial Club as a body of live, progressive citizens using their efforts for the material advancement of every public move which has for its object the betterment of condi tions for all the people of the city and county, strongly urge all free holders in the district to Bet aside any and all sectional or personal motives which they may cherish, considering only the broader ques tion of public policy, and perform his individual part in registering a de clsive majority for this great public need, that our citizens may point with pride to this splendid high school as a monument, to the pro gressive spirit of the community. The question as to where this building should bo located is of min or Importance to the greater one as to whether or not we shall deny our boys and girls every advantage pos' sible in fitting them to play a prom lnent part In the future activities of the gerat state of Oregon, as well as in the affairs of national develop ment. The Grants Pass high school is known throughout the state for Us excellent scholarship, holding, as it does, the state championship In high school debate, and we believe its supremacy should be maintained. This Is to be a year of progress and prosperity in Grants Pass. Rail road construction, irrigation, paving of the business section, which has a! ready been provided for by the council, the erection of a handsome new depot demand that we take no backward step In the matter of edu cation. Every true and loyal citizen desires to have a part in the rapid develop ment which Is coming to Grants Pass and Josephine county and In no other way can he demonstrate that loyalty more effectually than by placing himself on record In favor of a new high school building at the election next Saturday afternoon. Yours for progress and advance ment. Grants Pass Commercial Club The Afthlnnd Munic ipal Scandal In another column will bo found the particulars of the mail made use of by certain people In Ashland against the mayor of that city. This recall Is signed by 229 men on what would seem trlfllnK charges. We nayo no desire to enter into a dls- cussion of the municipal affairs of the good town of Ashland, but we cannot help Baying that the whole business looks bad In the eyes of out siders. This washing of dirty linen before the public can not be called good policy. The ge'ntlemen who signed the recall may be ' very wealthy for all we know and yet all their wealth put together will not pay half the damage that has al ready been done to our sister city by the scandal which la boing published throughout the country. The recall is intended to serve a good purpose, but it never should be used in carrying out spite . work or to the injury of a' municipality, county or state. In all such cases wisdom must have consideration and the cost in good name should be counted and if this is done the im proper use of the recall will never be made. We hope that our neigh bors will find some way of suppress ing the scandal which, If continued, may result in great financial loss to their popular residence town. Fritz Elsmann has purchased the sixty acre tract ou the south side of the river, adjoining; the bridge and extending half a mile down the river. This property has an old orchard on it which will be taken out and the ground replanted to commercial fruit. YOUNG MEN'S ATHLETIC AND SOCIAL CLUB Preliminaries to the Forming of Club Taken and Prospects x Are Favorable. A number of prominent men of the city have for a long time had under consideration the boy and young man question as It affects the youth of Grants Pass and this con sideration has finally resolved itself Into the forming of an athletic and social club which will be open to young men from 14 years up. Last Friday evening a meeting was held In the Commercial Club rooms at which time the plan was laid be fore the meeting. So much Interest was shown that the success of the movement was assured. James Tuffs offerod for the purposo of club rooms, free of charge, the upstairs room, 30x100 feet, over the South ern Oregon Supply Co. warehouse, which is In the rear of the Grants Pass Banking & Trust Co. building, and Rev. Frederick Bartlett, who Is active In the movement, will render his services as trainer, athletics be ing one of the many lines In which he Is accomplished. On Tuesday evening another meeting was held and on Thursday afternoon the com mittee held a meeting at which It was decided to go ahead 'with the work, and accordingly carpenters have been engaged to remodel the room. The front of the building will be fitted up for a reading room, and In the rear a gymnasium, shower baths and other conveniences. The membership will be divided Into three classes. Young men be tween 14 and 16 or 17 years of age will pay an entrance fee of $2 and dues of 25 rents per month. The older members will pay an entrance fee of $2 and dues amounting to 50 cents per month. Honorary mem hers will pay $5 per year. Already over 70 have promised to take out membership In the club and It Is probable that by the time of effecting a permanent organiza tion there will bo 100 applications. This Is a movement which Is sadly needed in Grants Tass as well as In all cities, as the young men have many Idle minutes which should bo put to training the. body to helpful recreation. Auxiliary Meeting. The regular meeting of the ladles' Auxiliary will be held Mon day, February 7, at 3 o'clock. In addition to the regular business, two prepared talks on subjects of special Interests will be given, one on the "Library Question," by Mrs. W. C. Hale, the other by Mrs. K. O. Harris on "What the Palmetto Club In Florida has Accomplished." Many of the Auxllinry members feel that the pnrlors are not doing the orgnnlzatlon the good they nilcht. How they run be made more useful will be brought up for dis cussion. Members please remember their duos for the second quarter. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION POSTAL TELEGRAPH CO. WILL REMOVE POLES OFF STREETS CITY BILLS ORDERED PAID Final Paring Ordinance Presented as Emergency and Head Twice Final Passago Friday. . The, adjourned meeting of the pity council was held at tho city hall on Thursday evening, principally for the purposo of acting on the final paving-ordinance, although other matters of business were brought up and disposed -of. The Postal Telegraph company presented a petition asking the privi lege of placing their poles along the new county road entering the city from the east, then to . Dlmmick street and along the county road. This will leave the residence streets clear of their poles. A petition from J.L. Myers and others asking for a lateral sewer along Seventh stroet to connect with the North Seventh street main waa acted upon favorably and the city attorney instructed to draw up the necessary ordinance. For a number of months there has been a petition signed by residents on Third street asking that the street be graded. At this meeting a peti tion signed by II. L. Andrews and othors was presented, asking that the petition be withdrawn. Referred to street committee. A petition was presented asking that the city co-operate with the county In putting a bridge across Gil bert creek at the point where it en ters the city limits. Referred to the street committee. A remonstrance against extending the fire limits, signed by five prop erty owners, some of whom were not living within the district affected, was presented. Referred to the fire committee. The property, committee was In structed to, Investigate the condition of the city Jail and make such im provements and purchases as they deem necessary. The bills of the city for the month pnst were approved and ordered paid. The finance committee was made the purchasing committee and will have charge of the buying of all supplies for the city. The final paving ordinance was presented as an emergency ordinance and read the first time at length and a second time by title, and laid over until the following evening, Friday, when It will come up for final pass age. The city engineer presented a report on the estimated cost of paving Sixth Btreet from B to L Btrets as $60,650.92. This Includes grad ing, paving and constructing storm sower. The estimates on the F street paving will be presented at the ad journed meeting and then final ac tion can be taken. The Wostern Union presented an ordinance requesting a franchise for erecting poles In tho city streets. It , Is understood that the company will establish an up-town office and this ordinance Is for the purpose of en abling them to run their wires to the office. There being no further business tho meeting was adjourned to Fri day, February 4. Activity In Orchard Planting. Fruit Inspector Burke went to Merlin on Wednesday to examine a largo shipment of fruit trees which have arrived at that point for plant ing, There are several thousand trees In the lot all of which are popu lar commercial varieties. Merlin U rapidly coming to the front as a fruit section. That station has long been a shipping point for peaches, and It Is seldom that the shipments of a Reason fall below 30,000 crates. There Is much land In preparation around Merlin for orchard purposes. Many thousands of apples, pears and peaches will ho planted this sprlag.
